2050
The conference room was dim, with only the glow from the projection screen casting faint shadows on the stone-faced officials seated around the table. The full-scale image of Venus rotated slowly above them, its thick cloud cover shimmering in hues of gold and orange. It was still far from habitable in the true sense, but the atmosphere was edging closer to the critical threshold. The highlands were stabilizing faster than expected, temperatures between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit and oxygen levels creeping into breathable thresholds. The colonization of Venus wasn’t just possible anymore; it was inevitable. And that was exactly the problem.
Xi Cao stood near the head of the table. He was used to pressure, but today the stakes were different. Around him, the officials spoke in sharp, urgent tones, each one angling for position, each eager to etch their name into the history of a new world.
At the far end of the room, seated beneath the national seal, President Ling watched in silence. His eyes, cool and patient, tracked the slow rotation of Venus like a predator sizing up a kill. He said nothing. He didn’t have to.
Cao cleared his throat. “We’ve made progress. The highlands can support limited surface habitation within two years. We are ahead of schedule.”
Stillness. No approval. No reaction.
A senior official leaned forward. “Two years is too long. The Americans are gaining ground by the month. If we wait, we fall behind. They’ve already announced Martian lowlands now held permanent standing water and weather patterns are forming.”
The military representative cut in. “We strike first. Secure Venus before they finish on Mars. The world remembers who lands first.”
Cao took it all in, measured, calm. “The colony must be stable. A flag means nothing if it’s planted on failure. Rushing risks everything.”
But the mood in the room had turned. The hunger for prestige had eclipsed caution.
Another voice from the table: “If they stabilize Mars before we touch down on Venus, the narrative is lost. They’ll be remembered as the first to terraform. Our claim will look like a reaction.”
Cao kept his voice level. “We always expected overlap. But yes, their progress places new pressure on our timeline. If we wait for perfect atmospheric conditions, we risk appearing hesitant.”
President Ling rose slowly.
“The giant of the West does not sleep. It tramples across the stars, its feet loud and its path wide. But size does not guarantee wisdom. And thunder is not the same as fire.”
He stepped closer to the display of Venus, its clouds reflecting faintly in his glasses.
“The dragon of the East does not mirror the clunking of the giant of the West. We move with intent. When we strike, the mountain does not recover.”
He walked to the projection of Venus and studied it for a long moment.
“Begin open preparations for Tian Min. Finalize the colony modules. Mobilize the launch teams. The world must see that the dragon does not idle, it coils.”
Xi Cao said nothing, but inside, the calculus had already begun. Two years was now too long.
Xi Cao nodded.
“Tian Min is on schedule for 2052. We will initiate full operational readiness and begin surface lander tests within the month.
Another official spoke hesitantly. “And if the American colony stabilizes first? Do we acknowledge it? Or discredit the effort?”
Jian Ling’s voice cut through the room.
“We do not diminish them. We eclipse them.”
Wei Li’s footsteps echoed in the hallway, a rhythm of purpose and anticipation. The walls were sleek and sterile, but his heart beat with excitement. Beside him, Xin Liu matched his pace, her expression one of quiet confidence, but her eyes betrayed her excitement.
“You know,” Li said, his voice light but filled with the weight of what was to come, “we’re on the edge of history. Finally heading to Venus, just imagine, living on another world.”
Liu shot him a grin. “You promised me the greatest adventure ever, Wei. And you delivered, it doesn’t get any bigger than this.”
Her words lingered, and Li felt a thrill run through him. He had promised her this journey, this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and now, here it was, taking shape before them.
They stopped in front of the door to the planning room. Li glanced at Liu, his hand on the door handle. “Ready?”
She met his gaze, her eyes alight, “Let’s make sure it’s everything you promised.”
As they stepped in, the murmur died away, replaced by a hush that clung to the air like the moment before a leap.
At the head of the table, Xi Cao was already scanning through a digital tablet, his sharp eyes fixed on the data in front of him. He barely glanced up as they took their seats, but his voice, when it came, was steady and authoritative. “We’ve reviewed the latest atmospheric readings. Venus is within reach, but the risks remain significant. The temperature is under control, but oxygen levels are teetering on the edge of survivability. And radiation exposure is a constant concern. We must move quickly before the Americans establish a lead.”
Li nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. The pressure to succeed weighed heavily on everyone, but this mission was their chance to claim a piece of another world, humanity’s long-held dream now within their grasp.
“We’ve identified several potential landing sites,” Cao continued, focusing on a region of the map. “There’s Skadi Mons, Rhea Mons, and the northern region of Ovda Regio. Skadi Mons is a large volcanic plateau, and Rhea Mons offers a more accessible highland region with less extreme volcanic activity. Both areas show promising characteristics, but Ovda Regio remains the most viable option.”
Liu leaned in, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. “Water extraction will be critical. We’re not relying just on atmospheric moisture, we can pull from surface water and potential rainfall. Both are viable with the new extraction units.”
A senior scientist spoke up, nodding in agreement. “The process is slow, but we’ve refined a method to extract water from Venus’ surface. By utilizing atmospheric pressure and geothermal energy, we’ll be able to bring water up more quickly. Our first priority will be establishing a reliable water source… vital for human survival and agriculture.”
Li listened intently, “Speaking of agriculture, Venus is primarily rock. We don’t know yet what plants, if any, will adapt well to this environment.”
Another official responded, “An aquaculture system will allow us to farm catfish initially, they’re hardy and adaptable. We’ll expand into surface habitats as the water becomes more stable. Hydroponics will provide vegetables and limited grains. The first few years will be almost exclusively fish and greens. As the rock gets broken down into soil via erosion, composting, and manually breaking it apart, we can plant pioneer crops like buckwheat, legumes, and root vegetables. We hope to have stable plots for crops within five years.”
Li thought for a moment, then turned to Dr. Zhang. “How do we manage the heat once we arrive? The initial phase will be rough. What are our plans for thermal shielding?”
Zhang’s voice was calm but serious. “Thermal shielding will be a priority. We’ll need to deploy habitats with insulating materials to protect the colonists from extreme temperatures. In the meantime, we’ll rely on automated shelters that can withstand the heat until more permanent structures are built.”
Cao cut in, his voice decisive. “The focus now is not just survival. It’s about setting up a base that can grow beyond our expectations. We need a colony that thrives, not just endures. Aquaculture hydroponics, and energy independence ensure the colony becomes self-sustaining and able to grow.”
When the final details were reviewed, the room grew quiet again. Li looked at his colleagues, faces lit by the glow of data and distant worlds, every one of them committed. This wasn’t just a scientific mission. It was a race, a race to ensure China was the first to establish a foothold off-world and show the world that they could do it better, faster, and more effectively than anyone else.
“We have our plan,” Cao said, his voice cutting through the tension. “It’s time to execute. We begin preparations immediately. No delays.”
For a moment, no one moved.
Then, quietly, Li glanced at Liu. She gave him a small smile, nothing showy, just a flicker of shared purpose.
He turned back to his screen, already opening the habitat deployment sequence.
This was no longer a vision on a screen or scribbled notes in a lab. It was real, and it had already begun
Convergence is available on Amazon in print / ebook form, as well as on youtube as an audio book.